Block Takes Over Brewery Yard at Tech Central, Cementing Commitment to Australian Tech Market
Historic Brewery Yard transformed into a modern hub for Block’s local and distributed workforce including Afterpay and Square
Multi-functional space enabling greater employee and partner collaboration including educational events, networking and community engagement Initiatives in Sydney'sinnovation hub
DISTRIBUTED-WORK-MODEL/SYDNEY, August 23, 2024. Block, Inc. [ASX: SQ2 / NYSE: SQ], has opened the doors to its new office located at the centre of Sydney’s new Tech Central precinct. This new office at the Brewery Yard, Chippendale, marks a significant milestone for Block locally and its commitment to the Australian tech market.
The new Block hub will create opportunities for partner and employee engagement, uniting teams from across the Block ecosystem, including Afterpay, Square, Cash App, TBD and TIDAL. While Block has a distributed workforce model globally, this Sydney location marks its second flagship office presence in Australia and complements the current office in Melbourne.
Situated at the historic Brewery Yard in Sydney’s broader CBD, the office spans three levels, blending contemporary design with the building’s rich heritage. The base building’s repurposing was led by Tzannes Architects and office fit out was led by The Studio* Collaborative; the space is crafted to support the current and future workforce and foster and innovation.
“After years of planning, we’re thrilled to see the Block team under one roof in Sydney. Brewery Yard will be a hub for not just our staff but also our merchants and community partners. We see immense opportunities for in-person collaboration, and plan to host educational events, demo hubs, networking sessions, and create true connections amongst teams,” said Katrina Konstas, EVP and Country Manager for Afterpay.
The historic Brewery buildings, integral to the Central Park precinct, merge Sydney’s past with its future. Preserving these structures ensures their ongoing contribution to the public domain while adapting them for modern use. In designing the new office, Block has prioritised a versatile and welcoming environment. Featuring a mix of traditional ergonomic desks and informal work areas, the space is tailored to support a range of work styles and needs. There are also two open-plan atelier spaces, a large event area on the entry level, training rooms, a games room for team activities, a parents room, and a Reflection and Meditation Room to support workforce well-being. The building retains key elements of its original brewery function, with chimney stacks and hoppers integrated into the design, whilst local graffiti artists have marked areas throughout to bring the building's history and Block’s economic empowerment narrative together.
The office will utilise Central Park’s low-carbon natural gas power plant, providing sustainable energy solutions. Additionally, locally sourced furnishings and reused materials from other offices will help minimise waste and environmental impact. The full-service end-of-trip facilities further encourage eco-friendly commuting options, underscoring a dedication to a sustainable workplace.
Blaire Kravitz, Global Real Estate and Workplace Lead at Block, noted, “As a global, distributed company, Block is committed to providing employees with flexibility and the choice to work from where they feel most creative and can best serve our customers. For those who’d like to take advantage of in-person collaboration, we believe our versatile Brewery Yard space is the perfect destination to bring our teams together for a wide range of use cases such as onsites, merchant meetings, and community events.”
Acknowledgement of Country
Block, Inc. acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
About Block
Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) (formerly, Square, Inc.) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, TIDAL, and TBD, we build tools to help more people access the economy. Square makes commerce and financial services easy and accessible for sellers with its integrated ecosystem of technology solutions. With Cash App, anyone can easily send, spend, or invest their money in stocks or bitcoin. Afterpay brings Square and Cash App together, connecting consumers and businesses. Artists use TIDAL to help them succeed as entrepreneurs and connect more deeply with fans. TBD is building an open source platform and developer infrastructure that enables everyone to access and participate in the global economy.
Press Enquiries to: press@block.xyz
Historic Brewery Yard transformed into a modern hub for Block’s local and distributed workforce including Afterpay and Square
Multi-functional space enabling greater employee and partner collaboration including educational events, networking and community engagement Initiatives in Sydney'sinnovation hub
DISTRIBUTED-WORK-MODEL/SYDNEY, August 23, 2024. Block, Inc. [ASX: SQ2 / NYSE: SQ], has opened the doors to its new office located at the centre of Sydney’s new Tech Central precinct. This new office at the Brewery Yard, Chippendale, marks a significant milestone for Block locally and its commitment to the Australian tech market.
The new Block hub will create opportunities for partner and employee engagement, uniting teams from across the Block ecosystem, including Afterpay, Square, Cash App, TBD and TIDAL. While Block has a distributed workforce model globally, this Sydney location marks its second flagship office presence in Australia and complements the current office in Melbourne.
Situated at the historic Brewery Yard in Sydney’s broader CBD, the office spans three levels, blending contemporary design with the building’s rich heritage. The base building’s repurposing was led by Tzannes Architects and office fit out was led by The Studio* Collaborative; the space is crafted to support the current and future workforce and foster and innovation.
“After years of planning, we’re thrilled to see the Block team under one roof in Sydney. Brewery Yard will be a hub for not just our staff but also our merchants and community partners. We see immense opportunities for in-person collaboration, and plan to host educational events, demo hubs, networking sessions, and create true connections amongst teams,” said Katrina Konstas, EVP and Country Manager for Afterpay.
The historic Brewery buildings, integral to the Central Park precinct, merge Sydney’s past with its future. Preserving these structures ensures their ongoing contribution to the public domain while adapting them for modern use. In designing the new office, Block has prioritised a versatile and welcoming environment. Featuring a mix of traditional ergonomic desks and informal work areas, the space is tailored to support a range of work styles and needs. There are also two open-plan atelier spaces, a large event area on the entry level, training rooms, a games room for team activities, a parents room, and a Reflection and Meditation Room to support workforce well-being. The building retains key elements of its original brewery function, with chimney stacks and hoppers integrated into the design, whilst local graffiti artists have marked areas throughout to bring the building's history and Block’s economic empowerment narrative together.
The office will utilise Central Park’s low-carbon natural gas power plant, providing sustainable energy solutions. Additionally, locally sourced furnishings and reused materials from other offices will help minimise waste and environmental impact. The full-service end-of-trip facilities further encourage eco-friendly commuting options, underscoring a dedication to a sustainable workplace.
Blaire Kravitz, Global Real Estate and Workplace Lead at Block, noted, “As a global, distributed company, Block is committed to providing employees with flexibility and the choice to work from where they feel most creative and can best serve our customers. For those who’d like to take advantage of in-person collaboration, we believe our versatile Brewery Yard space is the perfect destination to bring our teams together for a wide range of use cases such as onsites, merchant meetings, and community events.”
Acknowledgement of Country
Block, Inc. acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
About Block
Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) (formerly, Square, Inc.) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, TIDAL, and TBD, we build tools to help more people access the economy. Square makes commerce and financial services easy and accessible for sellers with its integrated ecosystem of technology solutions. With Cash App, anyone can easily send, spend, or invest their money in stocks or bitcoin. Afterpay brings Square and Cash App together, connecting consumers and businesses. Artists use TIDAL to help them succeed as entrepreneurs and connect more deeply with fans. TBD is building an open source platform and developer infrastructure that enables everyone to access and participate in the global economy.
Press Enquiries to: press@block.xyz